Europe in 2025
People, education and culture drive productivity
Policy Recommendations
We are beginning to track our Vision 2025 starting on 15 January 2010.
Build national platforms
Build national platforms that support and evaluate ongoing initiatives aimed at obtaining more effective interactions between business and schools, and promote development of new such initiatives.
ERT Comment
A few Member States already have national platforms and a number of others are in the process of establishing a national platform. (last updated 01/06/10)
Support life-long learning
Support life-long learning by transforming education systems to better enable working adults to pursue part-time education in parallel to their job.
ERT Comment
Currently, the participation rate of adults in continuous university education varies greatly in the EU. Industry has to specify its needs. (last updated 01/06/10)
Build stronger links between the public and private sectors in education
Build stronger links between the public and private sectors in education with the support of the business community. This should include the development of education networks and strengthening of the link between education, research and business (the knowledge triangle).
ERT Comment
The continuation of the Thematic Forum on University-Business Cooperation and the new Thematic Forum on School-Business Cooperation is helping to foster these links. There has also been continued emphasis on public-private partnerships which are being discussed at Member State level. This is an encouraging development. (last updated 01/06/10)
Further increase student mobility within the EU
Further increase student mobility within the EU by firmly embedding cross-border academic exchange as an obligatory part in most study programmes, supported by scholarship opportunities such as the Erasmus programme. Similar programmes should encourage the cross-border mobility of scientists and lecturers.
ERT Comment
There are a number of on-going programmes that increase student mobility and the EU has high ambitions to improve the access to cross-border academic exchanges. (last updated 01/06/10)
Create fully integrated European professional schools and universities
Create fully integrated European professional schools and universities dedicated to a specific research theme. Each such school could be based in one single location to speed up knowledge dissemination.
ERT Comment
There have been no developments in this area. (last updated 01/06/10)
Improve comparability of EU universities
Improve comparability of EU universities by finalising efforts to develop an EU-wide ranking system.
ERT Comment
The U-Map project has provided a European classification of higher education institutions. This is the precursor for a ranking system, which the Commission has indicated it would like to establish. (last updated 01/06/10)
Re-design Europe-wide immigration rules
Re-design Europe-wide immigration rules on the principles of openness, clarity and predictability. Eliminate obstacles to the free movement of highly-skilled third-country nationals within the EU, especially between EU-based universities and between EU-based industrial R&D activities.
ERT Comment
There appears to be no progress in this area for the time being. (last updated 01/06/10)
Increase the use of scholarships to attract foreign academics to EU universities
Increase the use of scholarships to attract foreign academics to EU universities, along the lines of the Erasmus Mundus programme. Visa rules should be adjusted to allow students from third countries to prolong their stay in the EU for the duration of an internship directly after the end of their academic programme.
ERT Comment
The Europe 2020 strategy proposal indicates that the Commission will work towards enhancing Erasmus Mundus. Under new rules, long-stay visa holders, including students, are now allowed to travel within the EU. However, there is no explicit provision relating to internships after completion of the study programme. (last updated 01/06/10)
Modify legal and fiscal rules to support smarter working methods
Modify legal and fiscal rules to support smarter working methods. This should include more flexible rules to support the use of teleworking, part-time work after retirement and part-time university studies for adults.
ERT Comment
The Europe 2020 Strategy proposes to 'adapt the legislative framework, in line with 'smart' regulation principles, to evolving work patterns'. (last updated 01/06/10)
Make ambitious progress towards the completion of the EU's Single Market
Make ambitious progress towards the completion of the EU’s Single Market, especially in the area of financial services and eliminating all remaining obstacles to cross-border mobility of people and knowledge.
ERT Comment
The Commission is expected to propose reinforcing the EU capacity 'to implement single market measures on time and correctly, including … the Services Directive and the financial markets legislative and supervision package…' ERT welcomes the proposal by Mario Monti on ways to further consolidate the Single Market. (last updated 01/06/10)
Promote excellent energy infrastructure
Promote excellent energy infrastructure. Ensure that the necessary grid and infrastructure developments proceed in tandem with the required change in EU energy supply to meet 2020 targets and beyond, including smart electrical grids, enhanced natural gas networks to support expanded access and CO2 transport pipelines.
ERT Comment
The investment in smart grids and CO2 transport pipelines has been extensively discussed. However, at present there is no investment commitment. There is more progress in investment in natural gas networks. (last updated 01/06/10)
Promote and develop sustainable modes of transport and innovative infrastructure
Promote and develop sustainable modes of transport and innovative infrastructure designed to enable low-carbon mobility of people and goods across Europe. Integrate transport and land use planning and use EU structural funds to promote high-technology infrastructure solutions.
ERT Comment
ERT is eagerly awaiting the Commission's White Paper on Transport, which is expected to address these issues. (last updated 01/06/10)